Dutch Captain: Teunis Vechterszoon

Teunis Vechterszoon (or is his name Sijmon Vechterszoon?) served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. Sometimes, his last name was spelled Veghterszoon. During 1652, he commanded a small hired ship, of which we do not know the name. Dr. Ballhausen had suggested that the name was the Scheletje, but I believe that is a misreading of the source. His ship had a crew of 70 men, so we would suppose that the ship's armament was 24 guns. He served with the fleet in June 1652. While Hendrik de Raedt's pamphlet omits mention of him, he seems to have made the voyage to the Shetlands, as he attended the council of war on the Brederode on 6 August 1652, following the storm. He joined Witte de With's fleet on 29 September 1652, so he likely fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock. He also was with Tromp's fleet at the Battle of Dungeness. He disappears from the published literature that I have after that date. Apparently, his journal from 1652 survived, at least until about 1925. I have started the process to attempt to acquire a copy. Dr. Elias refers to him as Symon Veghterszoon, but I believe it is the same man. Sources:

1. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
4. Dr. S. R. Gardiner, and C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.III, 1906.
5. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

I am hoping to find two journals from 1652

Dr. Elias references quite a few journals in Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons zeewezen. I have inquired to the Nationaal Archief to see what could be done about acquiring copies of journals for H. E. de Bertry and Symon Veghterszoon. The latter, we do not know the name of his ship.

Dutch Captain: Abaham Hendrickszoon van Campen

Abraham Hendrickszoon van Campen served the Amsterdam Directors. He took command of the Arke Troijane in March 1652, when the Directors hired the ship. The Arke Troijane was a 28-gun ship with a crew of 100-106 men. The ship carried 28 guns, consisting of 12-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 6-6pdr, and 2-3pdr. The ship's dimensions were 116ft x 26-3/4ft x 12ft. The height between decks was 6-1/4ft. Abraham van Campen and his ship were with Tromp's fleet in May 1652 and fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1652. His ship was one of those which had lost anchors, chains, cables in the storm prior to the battle. The majority of Tromp's fleet of 42 ships were Directors' ships from Amsterdam and Zeeland. He continued with the main fleet into June and made the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. In late August and September, he was with Witte de With, sailing from the Zeeland shallows in mid-September. His ship lost its bowsprit in a collision with Allert Janszoon's ship (the Dubbele Arend) on 25 September. He arrived at Goeree on 18 October, in company with 6 other ships. On 2 December 1652, he was with Witte de With's squadron with Tromp's fleet in the operations that led up to the Battle of Dungeness on 10 December. Abraham van Campen fought in the Battle of Portland and was killed in fighting on the first day, 28 February 1653, and his ship was sunk. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Directors Ship Information", 2004.
3. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1925.
4. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Battle on 16 May 1654 inside the mouth of the Dardanelles

Andrew pointed out this page from the Wikipedia about a fight on 16 May 1654 at the Dardanelles: "This battle, which took place on 16 May 1654, was the first of a series of tough battles just inside the mouth of the Dardanelles Straits, as Venice and sometimes the other Christian forces attempted to hold the Turks back from their invasion of Crete by attacking them early."

Dutch Captain: Cornelis de Bagijn

Cornelis de Bagijn served the Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam). He was born about 1573. He was promoted to captain in 1621. He commanded the ship Leeuwinne, a vessel of 180 lasts with a crew of 90 men, at least from 1626 until 1627. There is a note that in November 1626, he commanded the ship Geunieerde Nederlanden. The ship lay for 8 days at Hellevoetsluis, taking on victuals. In 1626, his ship was lying in the Goeree Gat. He was executed for cowardice in the face of the enemy on 26 November 1627. He had given up his ship to the Dunkirkers without a fight. Many of his crew were sold as slaves, but he was released. The Staet van Oorlog te Water for 1628 listed him, but he was already dead. One version of the list gave his ship as the Leeuw, a vessel of 24 guns with a crew of 90 men. In that list, the ship was said to be 150 lasts. Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Cornelis Cornelisz de Bagijn", 2005.

Dutch Captain: Ruth Jacobszoon Buys

Ruth Jacobszoon Buys served the Rotterdam Directors during the First Anglo-Dutch War. He commanded a 26-gun ship with a crew of 105 men. We still have not discovered the name of his ship. He was with Tromp's fleet in June 1652, and took part in the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. In August, he was in Witte de With's squadron. He probably fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock. He also took part in the Battle of Dungness on 10 December 1652 (New Style). He also seems to have been with Witte de With's fleet that sailed to Norway in October 1653 and returned late, into the face of a storm where many ships were lost or damaged. Sources:

1. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
3. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Andrew pointed out this page about a battle in 1649

Andrew sent me an email that pointed out this battle in 1649. The Wikipedia has the page:

The naval Battle of Focchies took place on 12 May 1649, during the Cretan Wars, at Focchies, near Izmir (Smyrna) in western Turkey, when a Venetian fleet of 19 ships, under Giacomo Riva, defeated a Turkish fleet of 11 ships, 10 galleasses (mahons) and 72 galleys.

Many of the Dutch ships listed later served in the First Anglo-Dutch War, in the Mediterranean Sea (for example, the Profeet Samuel and Madonna della Vigna).

We are experimenting with concept maps

Concept Maps seem like a good way to represent knowledge about ships, captains, and battles. We have been experimenting with them and Mind Maps (look at FreeMind). This is an example of what a concept map might look like, which shows my first attempt at representing ships, captains, and admiralties. Mind Maps seem well-adapted to structuring information for a book, as ultimately, the result needs to be linear. Concept maps seem more adapted to knowledge representation.

Start of a concept map to show information about ships and captains.

Dutch Captain: Sybert Vijgh

Sybert Vijgh served the Admiralty of Rotterdam (0r the Maze). In 1628, he commanded a small vessel with a crew of 30 men. In 1636, he commanded the Zeekalf, which had been built in 1622. The Zeekalf was a vessel of 200 lasts armed with 4 brass and 20 iron guns. The crew consisted of 90 sailors and 20 soldiers. On 13 March 1639, he was with Witte de With's squadron, which included Witte de With, Willem van Colster, Sijbert Vijgh, Willem van Brederode, Captain Halffhoorn, Captain Keert te Koe, Claes Ham, and Govert Voorns. In August, Willem van Colster complained that Sybert Vijgh had taken a flyboat but had not brought the ship to him, as he was Vijgh's commander. Charles Boxers says that he was in Tromp's squadron at the Battle of the Downs. Carl Stapel says that he was buried in January 12th 1642, so that in October 1642, it could not have been Sybert Vijgh who was in the Downs with Captain Forant. It must have been his son Dirk, who fought in the First Anglo-Dutch War. Sources:

1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, De Proefjaar van Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp 1637-1639, 1946.
2. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Duinkerkers, 1949.
3. Charles R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, 1930.
4. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.

Dutch Captain: Jan Theuniszoon Sluys

Jan Theuniszoon Sluys served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He took command of the Walcheren (30 guns, a crew of 90 sailors and 20 soldiers) in April 1637, replacing Pieter Meeuszoon Vloo. The Walcheren was a vessel of 200 lasts. He was a captain of the Amsterdam admiralty, where he presumably only served from April 1637 until 25 August 1645, when we learn that he had died. He fought in all the battles in the autumn of 1639, and in the last battle, had the honour to bring in the first prize. From Blauhulck, we learn that he had the nickname of Boer Jaep, a name that we would otherwise only associate with the Van Nes family, which can cause confusion. Sources:

1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, 1941.
2. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.

Dutch Captain: Barent Hendrickszoon Schaeff

Barent Hendrickszoon Schaeff served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. We know that he commanded the Vergulde Raven with Mooy Lambert's fleet that was in the Mediterranean Sea from May 1618 to February 1619. the Vergulde Raven was a vessel of 150 lasts. In 1619, he commanded the Zutphen, a vessel of 200 lasts. From May 1619 until October 1620, he was with Mooy Lambert's fleet in the Mediterranean Sea to fight the North African pirates. On 17 November 1627, he commanded a small vessel with a crew of 30 men. The size of the crew is the only thing we know about the ship. Sources:

1. Staten Generaal "1 01 06", inventory number 12561-56", Amsterdam Admiralty ship list, 1628.
2. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
3. Carl Stapel, personal communication "moy lambert mei 1618 - till february 1619", 2005.
4. Carl Stapel, personal communication "moy lambert's fleet mei 1619-oktober 1620", 2005.

Dutch Captain: Carsten Pieterszoon Rosegaerdt

Carsten Pieterszoon Rosegaerdt served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In September 1617, he commanded the ship Vriesland, which had a crew of 82 men. It is likely that the Vriesland was a vessel of 140 or 150 lasts. In December 1628, the Vriesland carried 2-chambered 12pdr, 4-12pdr, 10-8pdr, 6-5pdr, and 6-steenstukken. Carsten Rosegaerdt was with Hillebrandt Quast's fleet sent to fight pirates in the Mediterranean Sea from September 1617 until May 1618. In 1628, he commanded the ship Tonijn, a vessel of 140 lasts which had a crew of 100 men. We know that the Tonijn was built in 1614 and was a vessel of 150 lasts (or, perhaps, just 140 lasts). In 1621, the Tonijn carried 24 guns and had a crew of 103 men. In September 1627, the Tonijn carried 2-18pdr, 4-12pdr, 4-8pdr, 8-5pdr, and 6-steenstukken. Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Carl Stapel, personal communication "Moy Lambert 1616 en Hillebrant Quast 1618", 2005.

Dutch Captain or Skipper: Adriaan Dommertszoon

Adriaan Dommertszoon (or is it Dommaszoon?) served during the campaign leading up to the Battle of the Downs in 1639. In September 1639, he was assigned to Witte de With's squadron. Adriaan Dommertszoon commanded the ship Sint Laurens (32 guns and a crew of 90 men). Charles Boxer indicates that he was among a group of captains from the WIC and the VOC. Dr. De Boer calls him Adriaan Dommertszoon, while Charles Boxer calls him Adriaan Dommaszoon. Tromp's Journal says that Adriaan "Domens" ship was hired at Amsterdam and carried 32 guns. The crew was 87 men. Amazingly enough, we know the dimensions of the ship in Amsterdam feet: 137ft x 29ft x 14ft. Adriaan Dommertszoon was operating with Tromp's fleet near the south coast of England from June through September 1639. He was still in Witte de With's squadron during the fight on 16 September, demonstrating that "Domens" and Dommertszoon are one in the same. He seems to have been with Witte de With's squadron of 30 ships at the Battle of the Downs, although I cannot definitely confirm that. Sources:

1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, 1941.
2. Charles R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, 1930.

The Sint Pieter in the summer and fall of 1652

Sijmon Corneliszoon van der Meer apparently commmanded the Rotterdam Directors' ship Sint Pieter (28 guns and a crew of 122 men) after his ship, the Prins, was sunk by English frigates in the Channel in June 1652. When Sijmon van der Meer's health had deteriorated, his lieutenant Jan Janszoon van der Valck took command. By 13 August, Lieutenant van der Valck was in command, and was still in command in October.

Dutch Captain: Dirk Jasperszoon Cleynsorger

Dirk Jasperszoon Cleynsorger (or Cleysorgh) served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. We know that in Novembe 1619, he was in the Mediterranean Sea, with a fleet, operating against Algerian pirates. He commanded the ship Leiden (Leyden) with Mooy Lambert's fleet that was operating in the Mediterranean Sea from May 1619 until October 1620. The Leiden was a vessel of 150 lasts. This is the only period that I have seen him mentioned. Sources:

1. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.I, 1858.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "moy lambert's fleet mei 1619-oktober 1620", 2005.

Dutch Captain: Jan Pellicoren

Jan Pellicoren served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was with Hillebrandt Quast's fleet sent to the Mediterranean Sea to fight pirates from September 1617 until May 1618 He commanded the ship Hollandt, a vessel of 300 lasts with a crew of 130 sailors. He commanded the ship Zeelandia in Mooy Lambert's fleet sent to the Mediterranean sea to fight pirates from May 1619 until October 1620. The Zeelandia was a vessel of 280 lasts. He commanded a small vessel in March 1627 with a crew of 46 sailors. He was still commanding an unknown ship in 1628. Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Carl Stapel, personal communication "Moy Lambert 1616 en Hillebrant Quast 1618", 2005.
3. Carl Stapel, personal communication, "moy lambert's fleet mei 1619-oktober 1620", 2005.

Jan van Diemen's ship in 1631

In 1631, Jan van Diemen commanded the Rotterdam ship Eendracht. This was a vessel of 170 lasts. A ship of that size might have dimensions of 118ft x 28ft x 11.5ft. In all likelihood, the proportions would have been different. The Eendracht had been built in 1624. Her armament consisted of 2-chambered brass 24pdr, 2-half cartouwen 18pdr, 2-brass 12pdr, 2-iron 12pdr, 2-iron 10pdr, 10-iron 8pdr, and 6-iron 4 pdr. The Eendracht's crew consisted of 85 sailors. This is based on information from the Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1631.

Dutch Captain: Jacob Volckertszoon Vinck (or Vink)

Jacob Volkertszoon Vinck (or Vink) served the Admiralty of the Maze. He lived until 1631. He was promoted to captain in 1621. Andrew found a great page that includes a listing about Jan Jacobsen, talking about an epic fight in 1622, in which Jacob Vinck distinguished himself, while fighting Dunkirkers. This was when, under Mooy Lambert (Lambert Hendrikszoon), he fought against 3 Dunkirkers, where the Dunkirk admiral was caught. In 1623, he distinguished himself, under Josias de Moor, against the Dunkirkers by the Sorlings. In 1625, he served under Haultain at Rochelle. In 1627, he served under Van Dorp in the blockade service for Dunkirk. We know that in 1628 and 1629, he commanded the ship Utrecht, a vessel of 150 lasts. The Utrecht had a crew of 80 men and carried 30 guns (including 2-18pdr, 4-12pdr, 10-8pdr, 6-5pdr, 2-4pdr, and 6-steenstukken). In 1629, he served under Piet Hein against Dunkirkers and captured one. In 1631, he distinguished himself in a fight against 3 Dunkirkers, but stranded near Vlissingen, and drowned. Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. J. C. Mollema, De Eere Rol, from Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, Vol.II, 1940.
3. Rick Vermunt, page from the Isle of Tortuga website, uncertain date, circa 2004.

Dutch Captain: Pieter Meuszoon Vloo

Mollema says that Pieter Meuszoon Vloo served the Admiralty of the Maze, and was promoted to captain in 1626. In 1626, he hunted two Dunkirkers along the shore. In 1627, he served in the blockade of Dunkirk under Van Dorp. Earlier in 1628, he seems to have commanded a larger ship, the Campen, a vessel of 140 lasts. In March 1628, he commanded the Leiden, a vessel of 110 lasts armed with 4-chambered 12pdr, 4-12pdr, 8-8pdr, and 4-5pdr. Her crew consisted of 70 sailors and 30 soldiers. He still commanded the Leiden in 1629. In 1629, he took part in the attempt to block Dunkirk with ships to be sunk. He took a Dunkirker near Terschelling. In 1631, he took a Dunkirker and was awarded a golden chain for his distinguished service. Dr. Graefe wrote that in 1636, Pieter Vloo served the Admiralty of the Maze and commanded the ship Walcheren (30 guns), a vessel of 200 lasts. In 1638, he distinguished himself again, under Tromp against the Dunkirkers. In 1639, he distinguished himself in the Battle of the Downs. Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.
3. J. C. Mollema, De Eere Rol, from Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, Vol.II, 1940.

Dutch Captain: Adriaen Gerritszoon Bras

Adriaan Gerritszoon Bras served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He fought in the Battle of Gibralter, under Heemskerck, where he commanded the ship Stad Hoorn. From May 1618 until February 1619, he served under Moy Lambert (Lambert Hendrickszoon) in the Mediterranean where they were to operate against the North African pirates. Sadly, Captain Bras is not mentioned by either Mollema or De Jonge. Sources:

1. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "moy lambert mei 1618 - till february 1619", 2005.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Gribaltar 25 april 1607", 2005.